Camille was nine years old and had a consuming passion: medicine. In her room, between the neglected dolls and the school books, sat her most precious collection: a pink plastic stethoscope, a complete doctor's kit and about ten books on the human body borrowed from the library.

Every Wednesday afternoon, while her classmates played in the park, Camille was glued to the medical documentaries on television. She knew the names of the bones by heart, could explain how the heart worked, and secretly dreamed of wearing a white coat.

"Mom, when I grow up, I'm going to be a doctor!" she had declared one evening at dinner, her eyes shining with excitement.

Silence fell over the table. His father coughed, uncomfortable. His mother smiled, but not a smile that reached her eyes.

"It's a very beautiful profession, my dear, but you know... the studies are so long, so difficult. And then it's exhausting, you never have time for your family," her mother had murmured, pushing a lock of hair away from Camille's forehead.

"Why don't you become a teacher? Or a pharmacist? That's medical too!" her father added with forced enthusiasm.

Camille felt her heart clench. She didn't reply, but the dream didn't fade. On the contrary, it took root even more deeply, becoming her secret garden.

In the following weeks, she stopped talking about it openly. But in the silence of her room, she continued. She meticulously cared for her stuffed animals, diagnosing them with imaginary illnesses which she treated with utmost seriousness. She had transformed her favorite teddy bear into a chronic patient requiring daily care.

One Saturday morning, while accompanying her mother to the market, Camille spotted Dr. Laurent, their family doctor, buying vegetables. Without thinking, she let go of her mother's hand and ran towards him.

"Doctor Laurent! Doctor Laurent!"

The old man turned around in surprise, then smiled as he recognized his young patient.

"Hello Camille! Is everything alright? You're not sick, are you?"

"No! I just wanted to ask you... is it difficult to become a doctor?"

The doctor crouched down to get down to her level, intrigued by this unusual question.

"Difficult? Yes, it's demanding. But it's also the best job in the world. Why do you ask?"

"Because that's what I want to do later, but my parents think it's too hard for me."

Doctor Laurent observed this little girl with a determined look, and something in her eyes reminded him of his own childhood.

"You know, Camille, when I was your age, my father wanted me to take over his bakery. But I loved helping people heal too much. If you truly have that passion, never let it die."

Camille's mother had joined them and overheard the conversation. On the way back, she remained silent, lost in thought.

That evening, after putting Camille to bed, the parents had a long discussion. They realized that in trying to protect their only daughter from difficulties, they risked stifling her greatest dream.

The next morning, they entered Camille's room with a gift package. Inside, she discovered a real, high-quality stethoscope and a book entitled "Young Scientists: Careers in Health".

"We will always be there to support you, my darling. If you want to become"Doctor, we will help you achieve this dream," said his father, his voice filled with emotion.

Camille threw herself into their arms, clutching her stethoscope to her heart. She knew the road ahead would be long, but from now on, she would no longer walk alone.

In her room that evening, she hung a piece of paper on her wall: "Camille Martin, future doctor." It was her first step towards the future.